Sanuvox Technologies has been receiving inquiries following the media attention given to the MRSA outbreaks in the United States. Sanuvox wants to inform the public on the ability of Sanuvox Ultraviolet Air Purification Systems to destroy the Staphyloccus aureus bacteria (MRSA). The In-Duct Sanuvox UV Bio-Wall Air Purifier has been tested by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US National Homeland Security Research Center (NHSRC) against biological warfare agents. Installed into the ventilation system, the Sanuvox UV Bio-Wall Air Purifier achieved on a single pass >99.97% destruction on S. marcescens bacteria, 99% destruction on the MS2 virus and 93% destruction on B. atrophaeus bacterial spore.
As an example, the Germicidal UV dose needed to accomplish 99.9% destruction on MRSA is ¹6,500 microwatts-sec/cm². The Sanuvox UV Bio-Wall achieved 99% destruction on MS2 virus which requires ¹45,000 microwatts-sec/cm² for 99.9% destruction. Given that the MS2 virus is approximately 7X more resilient to Germicidal UV, the Sanuvox UV Bio-Wall can easily achieve 99.9% destruction of MRSA on a single pass. To read the EPA / National Homeland Security Research Study visit www.epa.gov/nhsrc/pubs/erUVSanuvox062606.pdf .
According to the CDC "Staphylococcus aureus, often referred to simply as "staph," are bacteria commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Approximately 25% to 30% of the population is colonized (when bacteria are present, but not causing an infection) in the nose with staph bacteria. Sometimes, staph can cause an infection."
The CDC goes onto explain "Some staph bacteria are resistant to antibiotics. MRSA is a type of staph that is resistant to antibiotics called beta-lactams. While 25% to 30% of the population is colonized with staph, approximately 1% is colonized with MRSA." For more information on MRSA visit www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_mrsa_ca_public.html.
Although MRSA is primarily transmitted through direct contact, growing evidence suggests that airborne dispersal transmission of S. aureus can attribute to an increase in transmission. According to C.B. Beggs, Aerobiological Research Group, School of Engineering, University of Leeds "It is concluded that although contact-spread is the principle route of transmission for most infections, the contribution of airborne micro-organisms to the spread of infection is likely to be greater than is currently recognized." Indoor and Built Environment, Vol. 12, No. 1-2, 9-18 (2003).
According to a research team from Wake Forest University School of Medicine N.C. "strong data support airborne transmission (of Staphylococcus aureus) from health-care workers to patients." www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol7no2/sherertz.htm#1
Sanuvox Technologies manufactures UV Air Purification Systems that are installed into the ductwork designed to sterilize the biological contaminants as it passes through the UV system. Sanuvox also manufactures mobile decontamination units and stand-alone HEPA Filter / Ultraviolet Air Purification systems designed to destroy bio-chemical contaminants while trapping particles down to .3 microns in size.
About Sanuvox Technologies:
Sanuvox Technologies, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of multi U.S. patented Ultraviolet Air Purification Systems and UV Coil Cleaners. Sanuvox manufactures UV Air Purifiers for residential, commercial, industrial & military applications. The Sanuvox line consists of germicidal, UV-C & UV-V purifiers, HEPA / Filter / UV-C / UV-V units as well as germicidal Coil Cleaners. Sanuvox is committed to offering a full line of engineered Air Purifiers and Coil Cleaners to solve the problems associated with IAQ. For more information contact Aaron Engel at 1-888-726-8869 or email at aengel@sanuvox.com.
¹USEPA UV Disinfection Guidance Manual, Draft Proposal, June 2003